Security system for mass transit vehicles

• US 20070241894A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jim Thrasher
• Original Assignee: Jim Thrasher
• Inventors: Thrasher, Jim
• Application Number:
  US11/405,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20070241894A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/552
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 19/02 for carriages B61D19/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 13/04 Passenger-warning devices attached to vehicles; Safety devices for preventing accidents to passengers when entering or leaving vehicles for preventing passengers from being injured by movements of doors B61D19/026
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/10 by pressure on floors, floor coverings, stair treads, counters, or tills

Abstract

A point-of-entry security system for ground-based mass transit vehicles is disclosed. The invention employs an electromagnetic field generator attached to, or incorporated within, the doorframe or entranceway of said vehicle for sensing or detecting metallic objects being carried by passengers attempting to board the vehicle. The security system is designed to audibly and/or visibly alert the operator of said vehicle of a security breach. An optional wireless sending unit may be employed to transmit system data or security alerts to remote security personnel or to remote locations.

Claims

1. A point-of-entry security system for ground-based mass transit vehicles comprises:

an electromagnetic field generator comprising a pair of induction coil sending/receiving units mounted at either side of the doorway or entranceway of said mass transit vehicle for detecting metallic objects passing through the electromagnetic field produced by said generator;

means for providing electric energy to, and for controlling the sensitivity of, said generator; and

,

means for generating audio and/or visual signals when a metallic object of predetermined size or density is encountered by said electromagnetic field.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sending/receiving units comprise vertical posts having electromagnetic induction coils housed therein capable of generating a balanced magnetic field between said sending/receiving units of sufficient strength for detection of metallic objects entering said magnetic field.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said vertical posts further comprise a hinge joint for collapsing and securing said posts during vehicle movement or when the security system is not in use.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for providing electric energy to, and for controlling the sensitivity of, said generator comprises one or more electric circuits operably attached to said pair of sending/receiving units and to an electric energy source.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for generating audio and/or visual signals when a metallic object is encountered by the electromagnetic field produced by said generator comprises a vehicle operator display unit attached to said means for providing electric energy to, and for controlling the sensitivity of, said generator, which provides the operator of said mass transit vehicle with audible and/or visible warnings of metallic objects detected by the magnetic field produced by said generator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for generating wireless transmission of data and/or warning signals to remote locations when a metallic object of predetermined size or density is encountered by said electromagnetic field.

7. A method of detecting metallic objects in the possession of passengers attempting to board ground-based mass transit vehicles comprising the steps of:

installing an electromagnetic field generator comprising a pair of induction coil sending/receiving units at the doorway or entranceway of said vehicle; and

,

connecting said electromagnetic field generator to a vehicle operator display unit which generates audio and/or visual signals when a metallic object of predetermined size or density is encountered by electromagnetic field produced by said electromagnetic field generator.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising a further step of wirelessly transmitting the audio and/or visual signals produced by said vehicle operator display unit to remote locations.